Understanding Conflict and its Impact

Study Notes

Conflict is a natural part of life where two or more parties have differences they see as negative
It often leads to negative emotions and actions aimed at winning
Conflict can lead to destruction and harm, but it can also improve effectiveness, relationships, and goals
Conflict is everywhere, happening at all levels, and it's seen as unavoidable because it's essential to human existence

Unity is the state of being one, and development is the process of growth and progress
Peace and development are inherently linked, but they often challenge established power structures
The absence of peace can lead to hindered development, as seen in Africa during the 1980s and 1990s
Civil wars in Africa severely impeded development, leading to plummeting life expectancy, dwindling incomes, and worsened welfare indicators

Cultivating a culture of peace entails embracing values such as freedom, justice, democracy, and tolerance
It involves rejecting violence and resolving conflicts through dialogue and negotiation
Peace isn't merely the absence of war; it's the presence of conditions that allow for the full exercise of rights and participation in development

Without peace, national development becomes an uphill battle, if not impossible
Unity is equally indispensable for development, as a nation fragmented by internal strife cannot thrive
Resources diverted by conflict away from development use are estimated at 1billionayearincentralAfricaandmorethan1 billion a year in central Africa and more than 1billionayearincentralAfricaandmorethan800 million in West Africa
Donors and development agencies have argued that development assistance projects have suffered in many African countries due to incessant conflicts

Positive Peace: Refers to the presence of conditions that promote harmony, justice, and well-being within a society
Negative Peace: Denotes the absence of direct violence or war
Peacebuilding: Involves proactive measures aimed at preventing conflicts and promoting reconciliation
Peacemaking: Refers to the active intervention to resolve conflicts that have already erupted
Peacekeeping: Entails the deployment of neutral forces to monitor and maintain peace agreements between warring factions
Peace Enforcement: Involves the use of coercive measures, including military intervention, to enforce peace agreements